VR goggles give students insight into care careers

Virtual reality goggles are being used to help students "experience" caring roles

Virtual reality (VR) headsets are being used by Cornwall Council to help students gain insight into what is involved when caring for people at home or in residential care.

There are about 1,000 vacancies in the care sector in Cornwall and the council is keen to encourage more recruits.

It has staged drop-in events where employers in the care sector can talk to students and answer questions about future careers in the industry, and try out the VR goggles.

VR software called Flo has been allowing students to work through virtual simulations of tasks such as responding to a blood spill incident, taking temperature recordings and categorising waste.

Val Smith, head of Cornwall Council's Proud to Care Team, said the need to recruit carers was a national issue

Val Smith, from Cornwall Council's Proud to Care Team, said the VR goggles were something to engage students and give them a "real-time" experience.

"Here in Cornwall, we've got something in the range of 15,000 front-line care workers, which is a number which often surprises people," she said.

Ms Smith said there were about 1,000 vacancies in the sector and that was "not unique to Cornwall".

'Help people'

Student Enya, 17, who is studying for a Level 2 Childcare qualification, said a recent drop-in event had been really useful.

She said: "I've been able to ask questions that maybe not many know how to answer apart from the people here, so it's been amazing to be honest.

"I want to help people that may struggle with simple activities like brushing their teeth, eating healthy meals or just eating in general.

"I want to make sure people are living the life they deserve, rather than living in sadness for no reason."

At the first drop-in event in Penzance, 18 interviews were carried out and at least four people were given job offers.